Projects: Commercial & Industrial
ATCO Electric Grande Prairie Administration and Operations Centre
Grande Prairie, Alberta
ATCO Electric continues to make large investments in its regional infrastructure, with a main goal to fulfill common corporate design criteria. The intent of this project, which was completed in 2013, was to combine administrative functions in a single 175,000 sf. building with construction, maintenance, and warehouse operations. To this end, SAHURI designed a two story 'bar' building with vehicle bays running perpendicular to it. We found that this arrangement addressed corporate goals, departmental requirements, as well as site issues.
The $45.4 million bar building is divided by a main central corridor, or 'spine', which provides a shared space that is equally accessible from each department. The central corridor also divides the building functions, with strictly office areas located on the north west side, filtering down to the south east end of the building which houses more industrial areas, such as the maintenance garage space.
The exterior utilizes efficient linear forms for both the office areas and vehicle bays. These form the backdrop for architectural elements that slice into the building and mark the main pedestrian entry points for staff and the public. A challenge this project presented was the unique site features and requirements, which impacted the design and site planning process.
The proximity of the building to the airport in Grande Prairie put a constraint on building height, which affected some design decisions. Additionally, incorporating clerestory lighting to bring natural light into the centre of the building was not feasible. Instead we employed light tubes to ensure a maintained light and welcoming atmosphere.
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